Holder for printing-plates.



No. 718,519. PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

E. W. PITTMAN Sz G. C. ANDREWS. HOLDER FOR PRINTING PLATES.4

APPLICATION FILED APE. 9, 1902. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 718,519. l PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

R. W. PITTMAN & G. C. ANDREWS. A I vHOLDER FOR PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILE@ APR. 9,1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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REINHART W. PITTMAN AND GEORGE O. ANDREWS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HOLDER FOR PRINTING-PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 718,519, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed April 9, 1902. Serial No. 102,035. CNO model.)

To all w/wnt it muy concern:

Be it known that we, REINHART W. Prrr- MAN and GEORGE C. ANDREWS, of the borough of Manhattan, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holders for Printing-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

Our present invention relates to devices designed to securely support and maintain a stereotype, electrotype,or other printing plate or form or an assemblage of the same in position for printing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder of this character with which and from which the plate or form, whatever be its dimensions or whether a single plate or an assemblage of the same be used in the press, may be readily connected and disconnected.

A holder constructed in accordance with our present improvements comprises a supporting base or bed which in its upper surface is provided with a series of channels or grooves, with the surface of one or more of which there may be engaged clamps, adapted likewise to engage with the margins of the printing-plate to be secured upon the base. These marginal clamps are adjustable lengthwise of the respective grooves, and in order to insure their irm fixation at the proper points in the grooves each groove of the series is undercut, as will be readily understood from the detailed description hereinafter set forth. A particular feature of the present invention relates to the form and construction of these marginal clamps. In order to facilitate the attachment and disconnection of the plate from the base of the holder, it is desirable that minimum time and eiiort should be required in shifting a clamp from an old to a new position (as in shifting it to engage with a plate differing in size or position from that with whose margin it has been previously engaged) or in properly positioning a clamp to bring it against the margin of a plate. To this end we provide a marginal clamp capable of insertion in a groove without the necessity of sliding the clamp in from the end thereof even though the parts of the clamp be not disconnected from each other. Moreover, a clamp such as our invention furnishes requires but a slight movement of the binding or clamping member to not only release the clamp from the plate, but to also produce such a rearrangement of the parts thereof as will permit the clamp to be lifted from the channeled base. Conversely, upon its insertion at or approximately at the proper point a simple manipulation serves to simultaneously secure it within the Vgroove and to firmly engage it with the margin of the plate superimposed on the base of the holder.

ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of our present invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the base portion of the holder, showing two plates secu red thereon by clamps of our improved form and construction. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, a portion of the base being in section the better to illustrate its construction. Fig. 3 is an enlargedplan View of our improved marginal clamp. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the clamp looking from the right in Fig. 3, part being shown in section. Fig. 5 is also an edge view of the clamp looking in a direction at right angles to the line of sight of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of a portion of the base shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a form of the screw memberof the clamp and such as is adapted to cooperate with the particular form of channel or groove with which the base of Figs. 1 and 2 is provided. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and drawn to the same scale, showing the clamp in its position and in engagement with the margin of a plate. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the plane of the line ct a in Fig. S looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 10 is a sectional perspective view ofthe base, this view illustrating one form of channel or groove with which the base may be provided. Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate channels or grooves of different cross-sectional forms, which may be used instead of the form indicated in Fig. 10. Figs. 13 and 14 are views similar to Fig. '7, illustrating forms of the screw member of the clamp adapted to coperate with grooves having the form indicated in Figs. 1l and 12, respectively. Fig. 15 illustrates a marginal vclamp in which the member adapted to impinge against the edge or margin of the plate is in the nature of a bar. Fig. 16 is an end view of the clamping means illustrated in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a plan ICO View. upon asomewhat smaller scale, of abase whose upper surface has by suitable marking or lining been divided into appropriate divisional units. Fig. 1S illustrates various joints which may be used in connecting the sections of a sectional base.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all figures.

In its broader features the present holder comprises a base at proper points in any one or more of a series of channels or grooves in which clamping devices of novel form and construction may readily be secured for the purpose of temporarily holding in place one or more stereotype, electrotype, or other printing plates. For the purpose of facilitating the ready attachment and release of the platesin the use of the base as a supportfor example, for plates of varying sizes-the clamps we employ are of such form and oonstruction as to permit them to be placed nearly, if not quite, in their proper positions in the face of the base, whereupon by aslight adjustment or manipulation they become firmly fixed thereto, with their beveled edges in firm contact with the margin of one or more of the plates mounted on the base, as will be more particularly described hereinafter. A like manipulation serves likewise to release them and permit the removal of the plate.

The base portion of the holder (designated by B in Figs. 1, 2, 6, 8, and 9) is made of some suitable material, and its dimensions are such as to tt it for its intended purpose. It is provided with a series of channels or grooves which open out through its upper face, and ordinarily these grooves will be substantially parallel to each other and disposed at an angle to the edges of the base, since the plates, (two of which are indicated in Fig. l and marked 19 19,) in order to fasten them on their four sides to the base, willcross the channels or grooves with their several edges disposed theretoat a different angle than a right angle.

The channels or grooves in the base may be of various cross-sectional forms; but in order to insure the firm attachment of the clamps hereinafter described they are preferably undercut. Thus their shape may be as indicated by b in Figs. l, 2, and lO-that is, of inverted-T form-or as indicated by b and b in Fig. 1l or l2, in the former of which two figures the groove b is dovetailed in form and in the latter L-shaped. Whatever be the form of the groove adopted it will preferably have asubstantially parallel-sided entering portion, as indicated by ha in the aforementioned figures, the better to coperate with the clamp, as hereinafter described. It maybe desirable under some circo instances to reduce the weight of this base. It may therefore be chambered in its under surface. Thus, for instance, and as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6, portions of the material are removed to form a number of chambers or pockets o.

Referring now to the present clamping device and its construction, the same is especially designed with a View to its ready applicability to its intended purpose without the necessity of either separating its parts lor slipping the clamp in or out at the end of the channel at the side of the base to effect its engagement therewith. Simplicity and economy of construction and a construction of a marginal clamp embodyinga minimum number of parts are further features distinguishing our present improvement.

Each clamp comprises a contact portion and a guide portion or member, the latter being adapted to fit within the entering channel of a groove. The guide portion of the clamp is designated by 2 in the respective figures and is at least no wider than will permit the same to be readilyinserted in and moved lengthwise of any groove. It is furthermore of sufficient depth to have an ample bearing against at least one wall l1" of the entering portion of the groove.

The contact portion of the clamp is designated by 3, and while it may be separate from the guide portion 2 the two portions will ordinarily and in the preferred construction be rigidly connected together. Theyare, however, disposed at such an angle with relation to each other that the opposite sides of the contact portion (such portion being ordinarily rectangular in form) make, with the corresponding sides of the guide portion, an angle substantially equal to that formed between the analogous side of the plate and the line of direction of the grooves. The two portions already referred to of the clamp may, in fact, be made integral with each other. The superficial dimensions of the contact portion will be sufiicient to yield an adequate plate-clamping face, for which latter purpose the edge ot' such portion will be beveled in order to fit the beveled edge p of the plate. We prefer to provide the contact portion of the clamp with a beveled edge on each of its four sides. (See 2 22 23 24.) The clamp is thus adapted to properly engage with either the right or left hand edge of the plate or with the upper or lower edge thereof, thus rendering the clamp in a sense universal in its applicability.

Although the contact portion of the clamp is shown in the figures as having a longer dimension in one direction than in the other superficially, obviously its dimensions might be such as to cause it to appear equilateral in plan view, and while in the respective figures the guide portion is shown as extending beyond opposite sides of the contact portion such projections may be removed or omitted, as indicated by the diagonal lines vc in Fig. 3.

The other member or portion of the clamp constitutes the means for attaching the clamp to the base, with the contact portion of the clamp firmly pressed against the margin of the plate. In its preferred form this member .is provided with a helical surface, whereby upon turning the member to a greater or less extent one or both of the undercut edges of IOC IIO

the groove in which the clamp is positioned reacts and in conjunction with a coperative member effects the firm binding of the contact portion of the clamp against the upper' surface of the base and its edge against the plate. Furthermore, the disposition and construction of this second member is such that its angular movement suffices to shift the aforesaid cooperative member from a position in which it may pass freely through the narrowest portion of the groove to a position in which it projects under the undercut portion or portions thereof. Various devices of this kind operative in this manner may be used; but in the preferred construction and for the sake of simplicity and cheapness of manufacture a screw-like binding member is used, the threaded portion of which engages With a tapped opening in the other portions of the clamp, while a head is provided on the screw member constituting the coperative member aforesaid. Divers forms are shown, that indicated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 15, and 16 comprising a threaded shank 4, at one end of which is a head 5 in the nature of a cross-piece whose width is not greater than the width of the entering portion of the channel, such as indicated in Fig. 10, while the length of the head is preferably not greater than the width ofthe undercut portion, as shown in the latter figure. It is evident, therefore, that when the line of width of the head 5 comes into alinement with the line of width of the groove-that is to say, when the longer axis of the head alines with the longer axis of the guide portion of the clampthe latter may be readily inserted at any point in the groove, whereupon by turning the threaded member to a slight extent angularly the projecting ends of the head are brought under the ledges of the undercut portions to engage therewith, the pitch of the screw being sufficient to cause an adequate binding or clamping effect for an angular movement of at least less than a semirotation.

Instead of a form of head such as shown in Fig. 7, that indicated in Fig. 13 may be used, in which the head 5 is conical, this head being adapted to coperate with a form of groove such as indicated in Fig. 11 and being flattened on diametrically opposite sides (one fiat 5 only being shown in Fig. 13) to permit the clamp to loe inserted into or lifted out of the groove. Still another form of screw member is shown in Fig. 14, whose head in this instance consists of but one laterally-projecting portion 5", as distinguished from the cross member of Fig. 7, to engage with the single ledge of the L-shaped groove indicated in Fig. 12. Evidently various forms of wrenches or actuating devices maybe utilized for turning the screw member of the clamp,that herein shown comprising a key K, (indicated in Fig. 9,) the end socket lc of which may be fitted over a projection 7c upon the end of the screw member. We may employ a magnetized key to the' more readily insert or withdraw the clamp and to actuate the same.

Referring to Figs. 15 and 16, the contact portion of the hereinbefore-described clamp is shown in the form of an elongated bar 6, which 4in this case is provided with guide portions 2b adjacent to its opposite ends, suitable screw members 7 being provided as before. The edge of the bar may be provided with division-marks, if desired.

In practice we contemplate that the parts shall be so disposed and proportionated that the rib, dac., on the upper end of the screw member shall be disposed in line with the channel or groove when the head of such member shall have assumed a position such that the clamp may be lifted off the base or by some other relation of parts constitute an indication.

In Fig. 17 the upper surface of the base is indicated as marked off with appropriate lines of division for the purpose of facilitating the assembling of the plates in position.

Where a sectional base is employed, suitable joints will be made use of in order to preserve the fairness of the upper surface thereof. Various forms of such joints are indicated by oog/'zin Fig. 18, the two former comprising a mortise-and-tenon connection in conjunction with a fastening-pinf, while in the last of the three forms the joint is a butt-joint, a pinfbeing likewise used for connecting one section with the other.

Having described our invention ,we claim- 1. In a marginal clamp, the combination with a contact portion of a guide portion and a clamping-screw comprising a head rigid with the threaded shank of the screw and which is adapted to enter the receiving-groove transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof, whereupon the head may be engaged with at least one wall of the groove by turning the screw part way around, to secure the clamp in place.

2. In a two-part marginal clamp, the combination with a contact portion of a guide portion rigid therewith, and a clamping-screw comprising a head rigid with the shank of the screw and having a longer dimension in one direction than at right angles thereto.

3. In a marginal clamp, the combination "with a contact portion having four beveled edges, of a guide portion, and a clampingf screw having a head rigid with the shank of the screw.

4. A clamp having a contact portion adapted to press against the face of a grooved base, combined with a guide portion adapted to iit into a groove of the base, a clamping-screw, and a member rigid with the shank of the screw and coperable with at least one wall of the groove in the base and insertible into the groove in the direction ofthe depth'thereof, whereupon by turning said screw part way around, the member 4may be fastened in position to prevent the withdrawal of the clamp.

5. A 'clamp having a contact portion adapt- IOO IIO

ed to press against the face of a grooved base, combined With a guide portion adapted to it into the groove of the base, and a clampingscrew comprising a head rigid with the shank of the screw and having a dimension in one direction enabling it to be inserted into the groove in the direction of its depth, and a greater dimension crosswise thereof, whereby by turning the screw part way around, said head is prevented from Withdrawal and the clamp is secured in place.

6. Aclamp havingacontact portion adapted to press against the face of a grooved base, combined with a guide portion adapted to fit into a groove of the base, a clamping-screw, and a member rigid with the shank of the screw and coperable with at least one wall of the groove and insertible into the groove in the direction of the depth thereof, whereupon by t-urning said screw part way around, the member may be shifted to prevent the Withdrawal of the clamp.

7. A clamp having acontact portion adapted to press against the face of a grooved base, combined with a guide portion adapted to t into a groove of the base, and a clampingscrew comprising a head rigid with the shank of the screw and having a dimension in one direction enabling it to be inserted into the groove in the direction of its depth, and a greater dimension crosswise thereof, Whereby, by shifting the screw, said head is prevented from withdrawal and the clamp is secured in place.

8. A clamp having a contact portion adapted to press against the face of a grooved base, combined with a guide portion adapted to fit into an undercut groove of the base, a clamping-screw formed for the application of an actuating device, and a member rigid with the shank of the screw and coperable with at least one wall of the groove and insertible into the groove in the direction of the depth thereof, whereupon, by shifting said screw, the member may be shifted to prevent the withdrawal of the clamp.

9. A clamp havingacontact portion adapted to press against the face of a grooved base, combined with a guide portion adapted to it into an undercut groove of the base, and a clamping-screw formed for the application ot an actuating device, comprising a head rigid with the shank of the screw and having a dimension in one direction enabling it to be inserted into the groove in the direction of its depth, and a greater dimension crosswise thereof, whereby by shifting the screw, said head is prevented from withdrawal and the clamp is secured in place.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

REINHART W. PITTMAN. GEORGE C. ANDREWS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED G. RAU, FRED. E. MAYNARD. 

